Visionary new Node Manager for coastal-inshore zone

A man of many talents. Dr Angus Paterson holds a PhD in Estuarine Ecology, positioning himself as a science manager even then by co-majoring in Business Management.

His professional career started at the former JLB Smith Institute for Ichthyology, before it became part of the National Research Foundation (NRF) and changed its name to the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB). In 2000 he joined an environmental consulting company called Coastal and Environmental Services (CES). His outstanding project management skills led to his appointment as Operational Director of CES in 2003, a position that allowed him to grow the business exponentially.

Apart from delivering in excess of 100 consulting reports, many about environmental issues in the Southern African region, he has also published 14 and presented 10 scientific papers locally and internationally.

One of his referees wrote the following about him: dynamic, strong interpersonal relationships with staff and colleagues, well respected in aquatic sciences, skilled manager, passionate and committed to tasks he embarks on, skilled in strategic thinking, sound knowledge of statistical and computer-based programmes. Another referee highlighted that Angus was one of the very few people able to access data, turn it into information and then interpret the data so that it becomes useful.

Angus' initial vision for the first five years of the Node is that it will:

• Be based in Grahamstown but have operations in at least 6 focal points along the coast. Within 10 years laboratories and quarters would be built in those remote areas without existing research infrastructure, such as Transkei & Northern Cape
• Have a small core staff as well as a number of contract researchers, monitors and students
• Have a volunteer monitoring network along the coast collecting basic but essential long-term data, such as estuary mouth conditions
• Have a diverse funding base which includes the NRF, industry and NGOs
• Deliver products which meet a variety of sectors' (government, industry, municipality, public, international) monitoring needs
• Have an active education programme that covers a wide range of sectors
• Have an information and archiving hub which provides for the needs of scientists and users. This hub will be managed so that any sector that undertakes research or monitoring feels happy to make data available, knowing that its distribution and use is regulated and for the Nation's good
• Be regarded as a leader in the region in terms of the coastal observation science and monitoring, and a major player in the international arena

In posing these challenges for himself, Angus is already confirming that SAEON has recruited a visionary Node Manager that will not only be able to lead the Node, but will also make a major contribution to SAEON overall.